Monday, September 17, 2018

#VH CITY GUIDE: SANTORINI

Santorini has
been on the top of my bucket list for some time. I always admired this small
Greek island with cute little white and blue houses. Finally I got the chance
to visit this magical place and decided to write another city (well this time
more like an ‘island‘) guide for you with my tips and advice.

ABOUT THE ISLAND

Santorini is
a small volcanic island in the south of the Aegean Sea and is located about
200km away from the mainland of Greece. It is the biggest island of the archipelago.
The island is reachable by both and airplanes. If you choose the option to fly
to Santorini, you will land in the city of Thira where you can find an
international airport. We took a flight from Prague with a layover in Zurich on
the way there and in Vienna on the return way. The capital city of the island
is called Fira. The currency used in Santorini is euro, just like in the whole
Greece, and the official language is Greek however you are good with some
English knowledge as well. The main names and signs are written both in Greek and Latin fonts. If you want to have a great view, I highly recommend
you to book a hotel in Oia, Fira or Imerovigli. On the island you'll find many buses connecting these (and other) cities, yet if you would like to be a little more independent, then I highly recommend to rent a car, just like we did. Santorini vzniklo zhruba před 3 500 lety jako výsledek vulkanické erupce, díky které z původního ostrova zbylo jen cca. 30% původní plochy. Ostrov se nachází přibližně 200 kilometrů od pevniny a je největší ostrov v souostroví ležící v Egejském moři. Na samotný ostrov se dostanete 2 způsoby - loďní přepravou nebo letecky. Mezinárodní letiště se nachází ve městě Thira, které je vzdálené jen několik desítek kilometrů od hlavního města Fira. Doporučuji na letiště dorazit 2 - 3 hodiny před odletem - na odbavení i scan kufru se čekají šílené fronty, ve všem je nepořádek (nám například řekli, že 2 ze 3 osob mají pokračující let zrušený) a na samotném letišti kromě 2 obchodů, milionu lidí a 30 stupňů nic není. My jsme zvolili let z Prahy s přestupem v Zurichu a na zpátční cestě ve Vídni. Jako v celém Řecku se i na Santorini platí eurem a mluví řecky - naštěstí je většina nápisů napsaná i latinkou. Nejoblíbenějšími městy na ostrově jsou Oia, Fira a Imerovigli, kde také doporučuji se ubytovat. Na celém ostrově funguje autobusové spojení mezi jednotlivými městy, ale já osobně doporučuji si půjčit auto, jako jsme to udělali my.

SIGHTS & PLACES

- Enjoy a sunset in Oia. Oia is famous for its breath-taking sunsets, so if you happen to have a trip to Santorini, make sure to plan this during your visit. The best place to enjoy it is the Castle of Oia which offers you a great view on the whole city. PRO TIP: Make sure to arrive there very early as the place is overcrowded!

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- Discover Fira’s nighlife. If you happen to be one of the night owls and enjoy going out to bars or clubs, then you definitely need to experience the nightlife in the capital city. In Fira you’ll find several bars, clubs or lounges where you can enjoy a drink (or two or ten).

- Red Beach is one of the beaches worth seeing. This unique red sand beach is situated at the bottom of the island. Tip: go in the late afternoon once the crowds have cleared for a sunset dip. Many beaches on Santorini are rocky, so you might find yourself opting to lounge instead of swim.

- Hike from Fira to Oia is a 10 kilometers long route which you can reach within 3 to 4 hours. This route is one of the best way to enjoy the volcanic views of Santorini and discover the island a little bit further. I highly recommend to either walk in the morning or in the later afternoon as the temperatures are getting really high throughout the day.

- Book a boat trip around the island and see Santorini from a whole new perspective! Around the small volcanic islands you'll find crystal clear water, so don't forget to pack your snorkeling gear with you!

CAFES & RESTAURANTS

- Petra Restaurant is a small restaurant located inside of the Hotel
Canaves Oia which I already mentioned. If you are looking for a place with a
great view on the whole city of Oia, this is the right place for you. Since the
restaurant has a limited seating with the view, make sure to reserve a table a
few days prior your wished visit. The view is really stunning there and I
really enjoyed their food and drinks as well!

- Ambrosia Restaurant is another restaurant which youcan’t miss. You’ll get the most
spectacular romantic view – highly recommend saving this one for dinner. The
staff is extremely friendly so you can expect great service – and the food is
nothing but delicious!

- Lolita’s Gelato is a small store offering the best gelato in town! They
often rotate their flavour however the classical ones you can always find there!

- Nikolas Taverna is a small, traditional place located in Fira. The restaurant is famous among the locals for its good food for reasonable prices.

SHOPPING

Usually I am trying to name you some stores in which you can get nice pieces. This time the only recommendation I have for you is, if you want to go shopping, go to Oia or Fira, where you can find a lot of local designers selling their clothing, jewelry or accessories. I would highly recommend you to check out their jewelry as I found an amazing ring in our hotel boutique.